title: The effects of short-interval postconditioning in preventing testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Testicular torsion can lead to testicular damage. During reperfusion, tissue damage is more severe. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of short-interval postconditioning and determine the optimal time of reperfusion for postconditioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five adult male rats were divided into 5 subgroups: Sh (sham operated), TD (torsion + detorsion), PC5 (torsion + postconditioning 5 seconds), PC10 (torsion + postconditioning-10 seconds), PC20 (torsion + postconditioning 20 seconds). Torsion was created by rotating the left testis counterclockwise 1080° and the testis fixed to the scrotum with 3 sutures. Torsion was maintained for 4 hours. The testicular artery was visualized, and before detorsion of the testis, an atraumatic vessel clamp was applied to prevent reperfusion in all study groups. Then, detorsion of the testis was performed. In the TD group, the clamp was released just after detorsion; in the PC5 group, the clamp was released for 5 seconds and closed for 10 seconds (10 times); in the PC10 group, the clamp was released for 10 seconds and closed for 10 seconds (10 times); and in the PC20 group, the clamp was released for 20 seconds and closed for 10 seconds (10 times). Then, all testes were reperfused for a 1-hour period in all study groups. After this period, the rats were sacrificed, and the left testes were removed and evaluated histopathologically and biochemically. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tissue malondialdehyde levels were 79.3 ± 10.6, 231.7 ± 102.3, 71.3 ± 12.6, 73.8 ± 13.7, and 124.3 ± 48.0 nmol/g tissue in the Sh, TD, PC5, PC10, and PC20 groups, respectively. Tissue malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the PC5 and PC10 groups (P < .05) compared to the other groups. However, mean histopathologic grade was lower in all postconditioning groups compared to the control group, but the difference was significant only in the PC5 group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that short-interval postconditioning can reduce reperfusion injury in ischemic tissue and the optimal mode of short-interval postconditioning is 5 seconds × 10 times. This technique seems easily applicable, and a similar technique may be used during testicular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey. sozkisacik@adu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Sezen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkisacik
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gursoy
authors.forename: Mukadder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serter
authors.forename: Nil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Culhaci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003250:Constriction; D057775:Ischemic Postconditioning; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D023421:Models, Animal; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde